Development and Design of a Merged Secondary and Special Education Teacher Preparation Program

As middle and secondary classrooms become increasingly inclusive, some special educators may not be prepared to teach content, and some general educators may not be prepared to address diverse learning needs. This mismatch between the reality of today\u27s schools and traditional teacher preparation has led to the development of new models for teacher education that integrate or merge special education and general education. Integrated and merged models are two approaches to combining special and general education pedagogy for teacher education. In merged programs, faculty in general and special education collaborate to develop one program in which all candidates receive licensure in both general and special education. Merged programs are developed through the extensive and deliberate collaboration of general and special educationfaculty to redesign the teacher education curriculum and field experiences. However, while several merged programs have been developed to prepare elementary candidates, programs for middle/secondary candidates are scarce. When faculty from Curriculum and Instruction and Special Education consider creating a merged secondary program, many questions and issues arise. These questions and issues were addressed in the development and implementation of the Secondary Dual Educator\u27s Program (SDEP). The overall purpose of SDEP is to develop strategic teachers with the versatility to meet the learning needs of all secondary students. This article describes the process used by cross-department faculty to develop the program design and components and how program evaluation led to revisions that strengthened the program

The Epstein-Barr Virus Episome Maneuvers between Nuclear Chromatin Compartments during Reactivation.

The human genome is structurally organized in three-dimensional space to facilitate functional partitioning of transcription. We learned that the latent episome of the human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) preferentially associates with gene-poor chromosomes and avoids gene-rich chromosomes. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus behaves similarly, but human papillomavirus does not. Contacts on the EBV side localize to OriP, the latent origin of replication. This genetic element and the EBNA1 protein that binds there are sufficient to reconstitute chromosome association preferences of the entire episome. Contacts on the human side localize to gene-poor and AT-rich regions of chromatin distant from transcription start sites. Upon reactivation from latency, however, the episome moves away from repressive heterochromatin and toward active euchromatin. Our work adds three-dimensional relocalization to the molecular events that occur during reactivation. Involvement of myriad interchromosomal associations also suggests a role for this type of long-range association in gene regulation.IMPORTANCE The human genome is structurally organized in three-dimensional space, and this structure functionally affects transcriptional activity. We set out to investigate whether a double-stranded DNA virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), uses mechanisms similar to those of the human genome to regulate transcription. We found that the EBV genome associates with repressive compartments of the nucleus during latency and with active compartments during reactivation. This study advances our knowledge of the EBV life cycle, adding three-dimensional relocalization as a novel component to the molecular events that occur during reactivation. Furthermore, the data add to our understanding of nuclear compartments, showing that disperse interchromosomal interactions may be important for regulating transcription

Using the behaviour change wheel and person-based approach to develop a digital self-management intervention for patients with adrenal insufficiency: the Support AI study protocol

Introduction: Most patients with Adrenal insufficiency (AI) require lifelong glucocorticoid replacement. They need to increase glucocorticoids during physical illness or major stressful situations and require parenteral hydrocortisone in the event of an adrenal crisis. Patients with AI have impaired quality of life and high mortality; approximately 1 in 6-12 patients are hospitalised at least once/year from a potentially preventable adrenal crisis. Adoption of self-management behaviours are crucial; these include adherence to medication, following “sick day rules” and associated behaviours that aid prevention and treatment of adrenal crisis such as symptom monitoring, having extra tablets, carrying a medical-alert ID and injection kit, and self-injecting when necessary. Current patient education is ineffective at supporting self-management behaviour change or reducing adrenal crisis-related hospitalisations. This research study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the barriers and enablers to self-management for patients with AI and to develop an evidence-based digital self-management behaviour change intervention. / Methods: The study is conducted in accordance with the MRC Framework for developing complex interventions. Underpinned by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and the Person-Based Approach, this research will be conducted in two phases: Phase 1 will involve a sequential qualitative/quantitative mixed-methods study involving focus group interviews followed by a cross-sectional survey with patients with AI recruited from patient advocacy groups and endocrine clinics in the UK. Phase 2 will develop the Support AI, a website-based digital behaviour change intervention (DBCI) informed by Phase 1 findings to support self-management for patients with AI. The most appropriate behaviour change techniques (BCTs) will be selected utilising a nominal group technique with an Expert Panel of 10-15 key stakeholders. The design of the Support AI website will be guided by the Person-Based Approach using an Agile iterative “think-aloud” technique with 12-15 participants over 3 usability testing iterations. / Conclusion: A theory- and evidence-based digital behaviour change intervention will be developed which will be tested in a feasibility randomised trial following completion of this study. The projected benefit includes cost-effective health care service (reduced hospitalisations and demand for specialist services) and improved health outcomes and quality of life for patients with AI

Cities, Climate Change and the Green Economy: A Thematic Literature Survey

This working paper constitutes an extensive review of the literature concerned with exploring the role of cities in addressing climate change and green employment creation. It identifies five key areas for discussion: (1) greening the local economy; (2) shifting local policy roles and trends in urbanization; (3) policy learning and cross-jurisdictional collaboration; (4) the place of civic participation and engagement; and, (5) the co-benefits of a green economy. These areas will be addressed in an effort to critically explore the following questions: What impacts do cities have on climate change? What role are cities currently playing with regards to the development and implementation of climate change and green economic policies? What barriers do cities face with regards to developing and implementing climate change and green economic policies? What potential is there for policy development?Work in a Warming World (W3

Reflections of Communication Skills after Practicing Telehealth Physical Activity Screening Evaluations: Qualitative Study

The Disconnect Between Patients and Providers Have you had a healthcare visit where: - You didn’t feel heard - Your concerns weren’t fully addressed - You didn’t follow the advice give

The role of shear dynamics in biofilm formation

There is growing evidence that individual bacteria sense and respond to changes in mechanical loading. However, the subtle responses of multispecies biofilms to dynamic fluid shear stress are not well documented because experiments often fail to disentangle any beneficial effects of shear stress from those delivered by convective transport of vital nutrients. We observed the development of biofilms with lognormally distributed microcolony sizes in drinking water on the walls of flow channels underflow regimes of increasing complexity. First, where regular vortices induced oscillating wall shear and simultaneously enhanced mass transport, which produced the thickest most extensive biofilms. Second, where unsteady uniform flow imposed an oscillating wall shear, with no enhanced transport, and where the biomass and coverage were only 20% smaller. Finally, for uniform steady flows with constant wall shear where the extent, thickness, and density of the biofilms were on average 60% smaller. Thus, the dynamics of shear stress played a significant role in promoting biofilm development, over and above its magnitude or mass transfer effects, and therefore, mechanosensing may prevail in complex multispecies biofilms which could open up new ways of controlling biofilm structure

Rationale for the Cytogenomics of Cardiovascular Malformations Consortium: A Phenotype Intensive Registry Based Approach

Cardiovascular malformations (CVMs) are the most common birth defect, occurring in 1%-5% of all live births. Although the genetic contribution to CVMs is well recognized, the genetic causes of human CVMs are identified infrequently. In addition, a failure of systematic deep phenotyping of CVMs, resulting from the complexity and heterogeneity of malformations, has obscured genotype-phenotype correlations and contributed to a lack of understanding of disease mechanisms. To address these knowledge gaps, we have developed the Cytogenomics of Cardiovascular Malformations (CCVM) Consortium, a multi-site alliance of geneticists and cardiologists, contributing to a database registry of submicroscopic genetic copy number variants (CNVs) based on clinical chromosome microarray testing in individuals with CVMs using detailed classification schemes. Cardiac classification is performed using a modification to the National Birth Defects Prevention Study approach, and non-cardiac diagnoses are captured through ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. By combining a comprehensive approach to clinically relevant genetic analyses with precise phenotyping, the Consortium goal is to identify novel genomic regions that cause or increase susceptibility to CVMs and to correlate the findings with clinical phenotype. This registry will provide critical insights into genetic architecture, facilitate genotype-phenotype correlations, and provide a valuable resource for the medical community

Genetic Evaluation of Cardiomyopathy - a Heart Failure Society of America Practice Guideline

This guideline describes the approach and expertise needed for the genetic evaluation of cardiomyopathy. First published in 2009 by the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), this guidance has now been updated in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). The writing group, composed of cardiologists and genetics professionals with expertise in adult and pediatric cardiomyopathy, reflects the emergence and increased clinical activity devoted to cardiovascular genetic medicine. The genetic evaluation of cardiomyopathy is a rapidly emerging key clinical priority, as high throughput sequencing is now feasible for clinical testing, and conventional interventions can improve survival, reduce morbidity, and enhance quality of life. Moreover, specific interventions may be guided by genetic analysis. A systematic approach is recommended: always a comprehensive family history; an expert phenotypic evaluation of the proband and at-risk family members to confirm a diagnosis and guide genetic test selection and interpretation; referral to expert centers as needed; genetic testing, with pre- and post-test genetic counseling; and specific guidance as indicated for drug and device therapies. The evaluation of infants and children demands special expertise. The approach to manage secondary and incidental sequence findings as recommended by the ACMG is provided

Developing Healthy Kids in Healthy Communities: Eight Evidence-based Strategies for Preventing High-risk Behaviour.

Australian youth engage in behaviour that threatens their health and wellbeing. National surveys report that about a third of young Australians have tried an illicit drug. High rates of substance use and risky sexual behaviour among young Australians suggest that effective prevention efforts based on empirical evidence need to be expanded. Church-associated organisations are an untapped resource that could be used to improve the health and welfare of young people. We describe eight evidence-based elements to consider in designing strategies to prevent high-risk behaviour in young people